§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were(a) admitted to hospital for formal detention and (b) informally admitted to hospital in each year since 1997. [32751]
§ Jacqui SmithThe Department collects and publishes information annually relating to patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. The most recent publication "In-patients formally detained in hospitals under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other legislation, England: 1990–1991 to 2000–2001" summarises the position at 31 March 2001.
Table 1 of the publication shows that all formal admissions to national health service facilities, during the period 1 April 1997 to 31 March 2001 increased from 25,415 to 26,707.
Table 7 of the publication shows that the numbers of patients whose legal status changed from informal to formal admission, during the period 1 April 1997 to 31 March, increased from 68,027 to 73,751.
The total number of admissions to NHS hospitals for treatment for mental illness is shown in the table.
Mental illness 1997–98 203,800 1998–99 188,700 1999–2000 187,600 2000–01 181,500
§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines were issued to health authorities and mental health trusts following the House of Lords judgments in the Bournewood case. [32753]
§ Jacqui SmithThe House of Lords gave its decision in the case of Lv. Bournewood Community and Mental Health NHS trust on 25 June 1998. On 10 July 1998 the Department issued a circular (HSC 1999/122) informing the chief executives of national health service trusts and other interested parties of the decision of the House of Lords. It also gave "preliminary guidance" on the practical consequences of the House of Lords decision.
Further guidance was included in the "Code of Practice: Mental Health Act 1983" published in March 1999. The code provides guidance on the admission to hospital and the treatment of patients who are mentally incapable of giving consent.